It turns out that the timeless #SouthlandStrong slogan is here to stay, for the foreseeable future, after a turnaround in conference membership count. The comeback came about via an indecisive-then-standing-pat Incarnate Word electing to reverse course on its planned WAC move. It also arose thanks to Lamar returning to its old nest early from a brief WAC stint.
That in hand, the Southland is set for a competitively rejuvenated 2022 campaign. One big storyline is the to-be-seen or to-be-determined succession plans for departed elite quarterbacks Cameron Ward (Incarnate Word, transfer to FBS Power 5) and Cole Kelley (Southeastern Louisiana University, eligibility expiration/NFL). In a league that is never short on offense, the Cardinals and Lions, still situated in the SLC’s top class, expect to overcome. More on UIW’s QB solution later.
2022 FCS Preseason Preview Central
Returning All-Conference Players
From last season
Incarnate Word – 12: DB Brandon Richard (HM), DB Kaleb Culp (1st team), DB Elliott Davison (HM), DL Cameron Preston (1st team), LB Isaiah Paul (2nd team), LB Kelechi Anyalebechi (1st team), OL Nash Jones (1st team), OL Caleb Johnson (HM), P Keven Nguyen (2nd team), RB Marcus Cooper (HM), WR Taylor Grimes (1st team), WR Darion Chafin (HM)
Southeastern Louisiana University – 11: DB Zy Alexander (1st team), DB Jack Henderson (HM), DB Donniel Ward-McGee (2nd team), DL Garrett Crawford (2nd team), DL John Graves III (HM), K Mateo Rengifo (HM), KR/WR Gage Larvadain (1st team/2nd team), OL Jalen Bell (2nd team), OL John Allen (2nd team), P Austin Dunlap (HM), RB Taron Jones (2nd team)
Nicholls – 7: DL Perry Ganci (1st team), K Gavin Lasseigne (2nd team), LB Hayden Shaheen (2nd team), OL Evan Roussel (2nd team), RB Collin Guggenheim (1st team), TE Lee Negrotto (2nd team), WR KJ Franklin (2nd team)
McNeese – 6: DL Mason Kinsey (1st team), DL Accord Green (2nd team), KR/PR Mason Pierce (HM/2nd team), LB Kordell Williams (1st team), OL Caron Coleman (1st team), RB Deonta McMahon (2nd team)
Northwestern State – 5: DB Shemar Bartholomew (2nd team), DL Isaiah Longino (HM), LB Jared Pedraza (HM), LB Jomard Valsin (HM), P Scotty Roblow (HM)
Texas A&M-Commerce – 4: DL Celestin Haba (HM DII LSC), LB Dee Walker (HM DII LSC), DB Darius Williams (HM DII LSC), DB Daryion Taylor (HM DII LSC)
Houston Baptist – 2: LB Rodney Dansby (2nd team), P Brady Buell (1st team)
Lamar — 0
Returning HERO Sports All-Americans
From last season
Incarnate Word – 2: WR Taylor Grimes (2nd team), OL Nash Jones (Soph.)
Nicholls – 2: RB Collin Guggenheim (Fresh.), OL Evan Roussel (Fresh.)
Houston Baptist – 1: LB Rodney Dansby (Fresh.)
Southeastern Louisiana University – 1: P Austin Dunlap (Soph.)
Teams With The Most D1 Transfers
FBS-to-FCS Transfers & FCS-to-FCS Transfers
Incarnate Word – 14 (10 FBS, 4 FCS)
Texas A&M-Commerce – 10 (6 FBS, 4 FCS)
SLU – 8 (3 FBS, 5 FCS)
Names To Know
TOP OFFENSIVE PLAYER: Lindsey Scott Jr., Incarnate Word QB — A grad transfer from Nicholls, Scott takes his dual-threat capabilities from the Colonels to the Cardinals. He rejoins the Southland to the tune of last season’s 2,083 yards passing for 16 touchdowns and 990 rushing yards for nine scores.
TOP DEFENSIVE PLAYER: Rodney Dansby, Houston Baptist LB — Dansby is only a sophomore, but the Houston native is already productive enough to be the Huskies’ future conference DPOY candidate. He amassed 131 total tackles (52 solo) in 2021 to go with three pass deflections and one forced fumble and fumble recovery each.
THE NFL PROSPECT: Taylor Grimes, Incarnate Word WR — Grimes is sure to be a favorite target of Scott at UIW. He has rewritten the record book at The Word, setting UIW marks in single-game receiving touchdowns (4), receiving yards in a game (193), receptions in a game (12), single-season receiving yards (1,145), and single-season receiving touchdowns (15).
Predicted Order of Finish
1. Incarnate Word
2. Southeastern Louisiana University
3. Nicholls
4. McNeese
5. Northwestern State
6. Houston Baptist
7. Texas A&M-Commerce
8. Lamar
Its football-playing future less in doubt, the Southland might have a resurgent season in store. UIW, SLU, and Nicholls create a formidable top trio. All of the above warrant SLC automatic-bid projection consideration.
The tiers of the conference beyond that threesome are more murky. McNeese is a proud program that, on paper, should be the Southland’s flagship. The Cowboys maintain a healthy sum of talent from 2021 but lose their all-conference secondary. That could spell trouble in a pass-happy league. In all, McNeese is seeking to replace four SLC-recognized defensive backs.
Our projected back four in the Southland are a clear cut behind McNeese, but figure to be highly competitive amongst each other. Northwestern State and Texas A&M-Commerce are the best hopefuls to break through the top four’s ceiling. A&M-Commerce elevates in 2022 from the DII Lone Star Conference for its first season of Division I ball. It might be a step ahead of Lamar, which is recuperating in some ways from a discouraging time in the WAC (0-7 in the WAC’s AQ7 setup with the ASUN, lost its final eight games in ’21).
